Using UCST Ionic Liquid as a Draw Solute in Forward Osmosis to Treat High-Salinity Water

Environ Sci Technol. 2016 Jan 19;50(2):1039-45. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03747. Epub 2015 Dec 28.

Abstract

The concept of using a thermoresponsive ionic liquid (IL) with an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) as a draw solute in forward osmosis (FO) was successfully demonstrated here experimentally. A 3.2 M solution of protonated betaine bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Hbet][Tf2N]) was obtained by heating and maintaining the temperature above 56 °C. This solution successfully drew water from high-salinity water up to 3.0 M through FO. When the IL solution cooled to room temperature, it spontaneously separated into a water-rich phase and an IL-rich phase: the water-rich phase was the produced water that contained a low IL concentration, and the IL-rich phase could be used directly as the draw solution in the next cycle of the FO process. The thermal stability, thermal-responsive solubility, and UV-vis absorption spectra of the IL were also studied in detail.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Heating
  • Ionic Liquids / chemistry*
  • Osmosis
  • Salinity
  • Solubility
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Temperature
  • Water / chemistry
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Ionic Liquids
  • Solutions
  • Water